Plenty of uncluttered easy space both in and out by the private pool - children love the freedom - great wine, food, and cycling country

Charming cottage in a vast garden with a swimming pool and boule; walk to the nearest village, drive to Côte d'Azur in less than an hour

In the city of Trapani, at the foot of Mount Erice, a nobleman's villa with a warm heart and exotic gardens. A hop from the Egadi Islands

Inland Algarve, away from the crowds – this gorgeous house with pool and gardens is a haven for families and friends

Rest, restore, and explore... from this smart, successful Cotswolds’ gastropub with ancient beams, roaring fires and truly pretty bedrooms

Vineyard B&B suites in sympathetically restored barn. Your own entrance, light-filled rooms, terraces for sunny breakfasts & evening tipples

A family-run 1700s thatched Inn in a rural hamlet with super food, a grand team to look after you and picnic benches in a pretty garden

Everything you need is here: a wood-burner for winter, a pool and spacious terraces for summer, and peace and beauty all year round

High-up, simple apartments, pools with fabulous views; kids play-things and donkeys, the glittering coast, Rapallo and Portofino down below

An 1800s former watermill, now elegantly converted to give B&B rooms plus a self-catering cottage in the Côte d'Opale, superb for walking

A flawlessly restored palazzo in the oldest part of town opposite an ancient monastery, with peaceful courtyard and a terrace with views

In the Welsh Marches, down winding lanes, a delightful refurbished hop pickers' house - romantic bolthole for 2. Friendly owners, too

A Georgian townhouse full of character for an epic family and friend get-together. The best of Hay is a stroll away

Superb views, scenic walks and a huge range of activities all within easy reach of this beautifully restored property

A three storey house and garden with sea glimpses in the 'vieux village' named for the Mimosa trees which flower in profusion in winter

A roomy, open-plan space for romantics, with complete privacy but with pub, bakery and views of the market garden from your own terrace

In wild Jura, surrounded by fields and heather-covered hills, a secluded farmhouse with cosy rooms and sublime views of Small Isles Bay

A cosy, very comfortable stone cottage with fine views across the valley, just a couple of miles from the southern tip of Ullswater